5 ms·

Doesn't Firefox still include google analytics into its Preferences dialog boxes or something? Im finding these stats ironic.

irae 5y ago
I don't have any proof or study on it, but I suspect they don't do it. My anecdotal evidence is that I use an application firewall and Firefox by itself pings only telemetry.mozila.org or accounts.mozilla.org and stuff like that. It uses domains that explicitly say what they mean to be used for. At least in my experience
wodenokoto 5y ago
Mozilla has a special agreement with Google about how their analytics data is stored and handled. I thought they only used it on their websites but it is not impossible that they use it for software telemetry.
commoner 5y ago
If you're referring to Firefox using Google Analytics for the Firefox Add-ons frontend, as of July 2017, Mozilla has disabled Google Analytics for any browser that has Do Not Track enabled. https://github.com/mozilla/addons-frontend/issues/2785#issuecomment-315212909 https://github.com/mozilla/addons-frontend/issues/2785#issue... This change was made in response to pressure from HN readers, so thanks to everyone for that.
- zibzab 5y ago
  It's odd a company of that size cannot roll their own solution.
  - mkl 5y ago
    Maybe it's a condition of their funding deals with Google?
    - ionwake 5y ago
      Ah I had no idea, well that explains what happened I guess.
  - johannes1234321 5y ago
    It's odd a company of the size of GM cannot roll their own gas station and toad construction network. What's the purpose of the Mozilla organisation? Is it in creating a analytics platform? Mind that value of GA comes from all the info they have and thus can estimate age, gender, social things, ... of users etc. Building an comparable service is a notable effort with little synergies to what Mozilla does. (Whereas Google can combine with information from other businesses)
    - nacs 5y ago
      I’m a Firefox user but let’s face it, Mozilla doesn’t have to make their own — there are plenty of open-source, self-hostable analytics solutions. (Also the “toad construction network” made me laugh)
      - johannes1234321 5y ago
        The question is: Why does Mozilla need analytics at all? Sure, counting downloads is good, but what other useful information are they pulling out of analytics?
    - ionwake 5y ago
      I think he meant roll as in created their own solution whether it was from open source alternatives or not. The point being - why link what most would expect to be private stats to google, from a web browser, the one thing that perhaps should be a stand alone entity. I get the impression maybe you work for firefox as I find it hard to understand someone who would think otherwise on hackernews - but hey all sorts here am I right?
ionwake 5y ago
What is super weird is everything I said was correct but I somehow got -4 downvotes. Makes me think something is up with firefox and google still ;-_-

irae 5y ago

I don't have any proof or study on it, but I suspect they don't do it. My anecdotal evidence is that I use an application firewall and Firefox by itself pings only telemetry.mozila.org or accounts.mozilla.org and stuff like that. It uses domains that explicitly say what they mean to be used for. At least in my experience

wodenokoto 5y ago

Mozilla has a special agreement with Google about how their analytics data is stored and handled. I thought they only used it on their websites but it is not impossible that they use it for software telemetry.

commoner 5y ago

If you're referring to Firefox using Google Analytics for the Firefox Add-ons frontend, as of July 2017, Mozilla has disabled Google Analytics for any browser that has Do Not Track enabled. https://github.com/mozilla/addons-frontend/issues/2785#issuecomment-315212909 https://github.com/mozilla/addons-frontend/issues/2785#issue... This change was made in response to pressure from HN readers, so thanks to everyone for that.

zibzab 5y ago
It's odd a company of that size cannot roll their own solution.
- mkl 5y ago
  Maybe it's a condition of their funding deals with Google?
  - ionwake 5y ago
    Ah I had no idea, well that explains what happened I guess.
- johannes1234321 5y ago
  It's odd a company of the size of GM cannot roll their own gas station and toad construction network. What's the purpose of the Mozilla organisation? Is it in creating a analytics platform? Mind that value of GA comes from all the info they have and thus can estimate age, gender, social things, ... of users etc. Building an comparable service is a notable effort with little synergies to what Mozilla does. (Whereas Google can combine with information from other businesses)
  - nacs 5y ago
    I’m a Firefox user but let’s face it, Mozilla doesn’t have to make their own — there are plenty of open-source, self-hostable analytics solutions. (Also the “toad construction network” made me laugh)
    - johannes1234321 5y ago
      The question is: Why does Mozilla need analytics at all? Sure, counting downloads is good, but what other useful information are they pulling out of analytics?
  - ionwake 5y ago
    I think he meant roll as in created their own solution whether it was from open source alternatives or not. The point being - why link what most would expect to be private stats to google, from a web browser, the one thing that perhaps should be a stand alone entity. I get the impression maybe you work for firefox as I find it hard to understand someone who would think otherwise on hackernews - but hey all sorts here am I right?

ionwake 5y ago

What is super weird is everything I said was correct but I somehow got -4 downvotes. Makes me think something is up with firefox and google still ;-_-